July 30th

The Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee EMCAC) met on June 28th in the North Hall for its regular monthly meeting. There was one item on its agenda, a proposed Request For Proposals (RFP) to put together a Five Year business plan. This follows an earlier special meeting called on June 22nd to tackle the issues surrounding this RFP.

A scheduled 20-minute presentation at the July meeting of the advisory neighborhood commission (ANC) on the health impacts to neighbors near the Buzzard Point and DC United stadium development turned into an hour-long argument between commissioners and the city’s representatives. Commissioners expressed their anger at the DC United project’s not sending representatives to the meeting and also the lack of priority placed on settling the health and air-quality concerns around the construction site.

Commissioners shared an unfortunate discovery and sudden news during July’s meeting of Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) 6C. For Commissioner Chris Miller, a FOIA request revealed that at least 55 of the more than 110 DC Public Schools are not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ANC agreed to send a letter to the Department of General Services (DGS) requesting more compliance, which Miller agreed needs priority for the children attending those schools, who have the right to access their school anywhere.

Commissioners Denise Krepp and Chander Jayaraman again detailed their growing anger and frustration over the Department of Behavioral Health’s (DBH) handling of the clinics opening within blocks of each other in Hill East. At the July 12 meeting, Krepp and Jayaraman updated the ANC on the fight to revamp the process for giving certifications to clinics like Andromeda Transcultural Health (corner of South Carolina Avenue and 15th Street SE) — currently, clinic work in some instances is classified as general office use.

Residents near the intersection of 11th Street and H Street NE may get relief from an increase in loitering, urination, and drug activity if the city agrees to the request of the advisory neighborhood commission (ANC) to remove benches on the corner. More than 50 residents over the last few years have signed petitions to get rid of the benches in hopes of deterring people from lingering there during the day and night, especially since many residents use the Capital Bikeshare station located there.

July 29th

Police announced the arrest of a suspect in a series of burglaries at yoga and Pilates studios during June and July at a press conference on July 29. More than 10 studios, including at studios near Union Market and in Ivy City, have been targeted — some multiple times.

Video surveillance showed the burglar as a man wearing a white shirt, wearing glasses and carrying a backpack. He used a crowbar to break open the drawers in the studios and took cash and small electronics.

In Other News

The Blotter is based on the reports posted on July 28, 2016 by the MPD to the 1D Listservand 5D Listerv.

July 28th

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen and his wife Jordi Hutchinson welcomed a new baby boy named Everett into their family on July 20, much to the excitement of his first child Cora.

After a Twitter storm of congratulations and compliments on the growing family, Allen announced he will take a few weeks off of work on paternity leave to stay home while his family acclimates to their new addition.